Paula Appleton

Paula Appleton is a counsellor with 14 years' experience based in the United Kingdom. She holds BACP and NCPS credentials and uses an integrative style to tailor sessions to each person. Paula supports people through a wide range of life challenges and aims to create a calm, focused space for conversation.

Paula mixes methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Attachment-Based work to suit individual needs. She also draws on Client-Centred and Dialectical Behavior Therapy approaches when helpful. Sessions are shaped around what a person brings in the moment and the goals they want to reach.

Her practice covers many concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions and grief. She also helps with intimacy-related issues, parenting strains, career worries, ADHD and compassion fatigue. Additional focuses include abandonment, adoption and foster care matters, attachment issues and supporting people with autism and Asperger syndrome.

Paula has experience working with Deaf and hard of hearing people and offers communication support through Signed Supported English and British Sign Language at NVQ Level 6. She is mindful of different communication needs and adapts her approach accordingly.

Counselling sessions give people space to talk through difficult events, think about what's changed and try small steps that feel manageable. Paula aims to help clients build clearer ways of coping, notice patterns that cause distress and find steadier ground for everyday life.

How Paula's approaches translate to online counselling

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, low mood and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on spotting patterns in thoughts and behaviours and trying different tasks to shift those patterns, which can help with depression, worry and some relationship stress. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current ways of relating and can be helpful for intimacy issues and attachment concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Paula will discuss goals and preferences with each person and will adapt methods during sessions. This collaborative process means the chosen techniques can be adjusted as progress is made or new needs arise.

The therapist's biography does not list specific online formats, so please confirm available session types before booking. Many people find online counselling easier to fit into a busy week, allows shorter check-ins when needed and can reduce travel time. Others prefer a fuller session over video for deeper emotional work, while phone or message-based options can suit brief updates or when fewer technical demands are needed. Registered or accredited professionals can help you choose a format that suits your daily routine and therapy goals.